Combined shoe rack and tree



M'. w. GANo, JR

COMBINED sHoE RACK AND TREE Filed May 17, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 LM wwwa- Feb. 1,1944. Y

M. W. GAN,.JR coMBINEDsHQE 'RACK AND TREE Filed May 17. 1941 2 sheets-sheet. 2

Patented Feb. l, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE COMBINED fsH'E Reef; AND TREE Merritt W. Gano, Jr., Denver, Colo. VApplica-tion May '17, 1941, serial No. .393,875 `9 oiaims. (C1. 12e-429.1)

This invention relates, generally, to racks and similar devices, and it has barticular relation to a combined shoe rack and tree; l

One of the Inain objects of the 4invention is'to provide a 'combined shoe rack and tree for supporting shoes of yvarying size, shape, or style, and operable to shane and inaintain the shape of the Ashoe when in supported positionl on the rack.

Another object of the 'invention is to provide a 'combined shoe rack and tree of simple and inexpensive construction, and "which may be readily attached, for eXanple, Vtothe inside of a closet door, or to a wall 'or' other structure;` also `a combined shoe rack and tree which 'is easyV to manipulate and lwhich, effectively accomplishes the desired results. l l A Another object of theinvention isvto provide a c'ornbined shoe lrack and tree which is readily adjustable 'to cover fthe entire range of shoe sizes; also a combined shoe rack and tree the features of which are 'adapted nfor Vuse with womens shoes as well 'as with inens shoes, and a shoe rack and tree which. n'iay be of a character to support a plurality of 'pairs of shoes or any desired nu'inloer 'of shoes.

While ythe particular structural features and c'ornhinations by whichI obtain a combined shoe rack 'and tree of the character set forth are important features Within thernore specific aspects of the invention, it is 150 understood Pthat the precise features 'shown and 'described may be Varied within Vthe floroader aspects 'of theinve'ntion.

In order to acquaint those 'skilled in the art with the "construction and operation of a combined shoer rack and tree embodying the 4iresent invention I will now describe, in connection with 'the drawings, v'certain preferred embodiments 'of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure '1 is Aa vfront elevational 'View partially broken 'away 'and showing a combined shoe rack and tree 'embodying thefnr'esent invention;

Figure 2 is an 'endview of the combinedsho'e rack and tree, looking from the right hand 'end as the device is viewed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken `on `the line 3'-3 `of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a `detail section taken A'on the line 4 4 of Figure 1; o,

Figure 5 is a detail section `taken 'on the lin'e 5 5 'of Figure 1, to; show one suitable 'forth off mounting -for the adjustable ibase 'for the heel A- clamp;

Figure 49 is a Yiagin'ehta'fy lfl'diflt eeleva.onil View @f 'the device in Figure '7.

The Vframe in has openings, for example, ai f5 through which the 'Shanks of screws f6 Ui' other fastening I"rn'efns `are ijbt to bass for fSedili"- n'gthe Traino, for earipl, "to the inside of 'a clbst doorl indicated 'fitgri'ielt'ai@ily at f8 in Figurel 2, or to a wall or other structure. The freine T0 shown in Figure 1 is adapted to sunport two pairs of rnens shoes, vbut it is tohbe understood 'that the uo'vioe may 'be adapted to support any other desirednumber of shoes. k

Two `parallel unrigh't `ine'in'bers "2'0 are provided foreach shoe, one shoe being indicated at 2| in Figures `1 and 2. The opposite ends of the meinbers 2l) arewelded, riveted, or otherwise 'suitably secured to the Aupper and lower frame members n and i2.

Attached to the bottom frame rnernber |'2 are a plurality of 'toe hold clainps 25 one disposed aorbss the lower endso'f each pair of upright ineinbers Z'. These toe hold clamps 25 may `be, in th'e fr'rn of angle members, the flanges K'Z'Gwo'f whiohjro adapted to engego'over the tip of trie s'ole of 'the shoe as shown. While the toe -hold clamps or sole clips 2B vmay berAfiXed withintlh'e sfe'ope 'of Athe `15reserft invention, I 4prefer to make the sanediustable" toward ,and awayffrom the freine IO. inay' bey accomplished, for example, 'by' .screws '21 ixed in the -frame ymember i0, the Shanks 'ofthe Yscre'vi's having threaded ngagement with lugs 2t at ,the opposite ensof thefsolef clips, and 'the outer ends of the screwsI having iii-iger proces 3u ty moans or 'which the screws may be manipulated to adjust the sole Vclips toward and away from, or substantially normal to the frame member` I2. Some mens shoes are lasted on lasts that leave a slight curve or rocker in the sole. By having the sole clips adjustable as set forth, any kind of treeing desired may be had.

Adjustable along the uprights 25 toward and away from or substantially normal to the toe hold clamps 25 are the heel clamps, each indicated in its entirety at 35. Each of the heel clamps 35 comprises a base member 36 carrying an outwardly extending post 31. Generally U-shaped heel clamp rods 38 have first legs 39 slidable axially, and adapted, if desired, Vto turn in the posts 31. Each rod 38 also has a second of the leg 39' of the rod 38'. The head memberV 51 is threaded or otherwise detachably mounted on the inner end of the leg 39 of the clamping rod to facilitate assembly, and stop means, such as a cap screw 58, is threaded or otherwise removably secured in the inner end of the holder or post 31' to limit the inward movement of the clamping rod under the action of the spring 50'.

The spring 55 acts yieldingly to urge the head member 42 on the free end of the second leg of the clamping rod toward the frame for the purpose of clamping the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of Y the shoe when in supported position, as in the leg 45 adapted to enter the shoe 2| at the heely thereof, and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame I, and particularly against'the upright members 25 of the frame. Head members 42, which may be formed of a plastic material or any other material and which may, if desired, be padded, are secured on the free ends of the legs 45 of the rods 33 for cooperation with the interior of the shoe at the heel, as shown.

The base members 36 are carried by transverse angle pieces 45 slotted at 46 (Figure 5) for sliding movement along the upright members and to be guided by these members. The outer portions of the slotted parts of the angle pieces 45, which are shown'in Figure 1, may be of spring character for the purpose of frictionally engaging the cooperating flanges of the upright members to hold the heel clamps 35 in any adjusted position. Another manner of accomplishing this irictional retention for holding the heel clamps in adjusted position is to form the flanges 41 of the angle pieces 45 with inturned spring extensions 48 for cooperation with the adjacent flanges 49 of the upright members 20 as shown of coiled springs 55 surrounding the posts 31Y and anchored at one end at 5l to the base 36 and turned at the other end at 52 into an opening in the leg 39 of the rod 35. The contracting springs 55 maintain the rods 58 yieldingly in clamping position, and return the same to such position to clamp the shoes in place at the heels thereof. The legs 39 of the rods 33 are preferably adapted to turn in the posts 31 to permit swinging the clamping legs 45 with the head members 42 thereon to the right or to the left of the positions shown in Figure 1 to clear the heel of theshoe for facilitating mounting the shoe on the rack. With the springs 55 arranged as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, these springs, in addition to setting up the desired shoe clamping tension, also return the rods, and particularly the clamping legs 45 thereof, to the positions shown in V.Figure l for entry into the shoe at the other embodiment or" the invention. The other parts in Figures '1, 8, and V9, corresponding with parts of. the other embodiment of the invention, are indicated by primed reference characters corresponding'with `the reference characters in the other gures.

In the case of womens shoes, as indicated by the shoe 2| in Figure '1, lined toe caps 65 are preferably provided for receiving and holding the toes of the shoes instead of the sole clips 25. The caps may bejlined with felt or other suitable material at 62 so as not to injure the toe of the shoe. It will be noted that the cap engages the eXterior'of the toe of the shoe, and Vthat the toe clip 25 for mens shoes also engages the exterior of the'shoe. The toe `'caps 60 may be adjustable toward and from the frame l0 in the manner in which the toe clips 25 are adjustable, although such adjustment for the toe caps of womens shoes is usually not'required because of theadaptability of these toe caps for cooperation with the toes of womens shoes of varying shapes and styles.

In order to take care of heels Vof dierent heights and, particularly, to take care of both high and low heels of womens shoes, I provide means for adjusting the heel clamp rod 38'. This ner. A spring 1i) may be provided yieldingly to hold the pin 60 interlocked with Vthe inner end of the bayonet slot 61.

Where'the inner or lower ends of the heels vof womens shoes are too small to' be clamped against the uprights corresponding withthe uprights 20 of the frame as in the case of mens shoes, the rack for womens shoes may have a heel plate 12 secured to the base 0r carriage 36 and adjustable therewith. This heel plate 12 may, if desired, have lugs 14 engaging the adjacent flanges of the upright members 20 to guidethe heel plate in its adjusting movement along the iiright members 25' with the base or carriage In the use of the rack, the heel clamp rod is grasped, for example, along the intermediate portion which constitutes a suitable handle, and the rod is pulled out against the action of the spring sulilciently to clear the heel clamp button 42 or 42 ofthe heel of the shoe. The shoe isV then placed in position as shown in Figures 1, 2, and v n the case of a mans shoe, with me tip of the sole 16 of the shoe engaging the iiange of the solewclip 25, and, in the case of a womans shoe, with the toe of the shoe1engaging in the toe cap '60 f Where the side is clear so that the heel of the shoe may be placed in position in a sidewise direction, all that is required is to pull the heel clamp rodout sufficiently to permit the shoe to be placed in position. If the side is not clear, for example, because other shoes are in place on the rack, the leg 40, for example, of the rod 38 of the rack for mens shoes, or the corresponding leg 40 of the rod 38 of the rack for womens shoes may be swung to the left or to the right from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 9 sufficiently to clear the heel of the shoe.

Upon` arranging the shoe in place and in engagement with the toe clip or toe cap and positioning or allowing the heel clamp rod to assume position. for `entry into the'shoe at the heel thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 9, the heel clamp rod is released and the spring 5B or 55)' moves the heel clamp rod toward the frame of the rack, causing the heel clamp head or'button 42 or 42 to engage within the heel of the shoe and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the upright members of the frame lil, or against the plate 'I2 of the frame lil. The spring tension thereby shapes and maintains the shape of the shoe when in supported position on the rack. y

The embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a denition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

l. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a support, a toe hold clamp for receiving and externally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, and a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes and comprising a, springtensioned heel clamp member adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe when in supported position.

2. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for receiving and vexternally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, a base member for a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes, a generally U-shaped heel clamp member having a iirst leg supported on said adjustable base member and a second leg adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe when in supported position, and spring means cooperating with the first leg of said heel clamp member for yieldingly maintaining the other leg of said heel clamp member in position clamping the heel of the oshoe against said frame.

3. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for receiving and eX- ternally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, a, heel clamp holder adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes, a generally U-shaped heel clamp member having a rst leg extending into said heel clamp holder and a secyond .leg adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof, a head member on the free end of said second `leg -or clamping the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoes when in supported position, and Van expanding spring within said heel clamp holder and cooperable with the rst leg of said heel clamp member yieldingly to urge' the head member on the free end of the second leg of said heel clamp member toward the frame.

4. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for receiving and eX- ternally engaging the ytoe end of a supported shoe, a `base member ior a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward andaway from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes, argenerally U-shaped heel clamp member having a rst leg supported for turning movement on one of said adjustable base member and a second leg adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereoiga head member on the free end of said second leg for clamping the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe whenk in supported position, and spring means cooperating with the iirst leg of said heel clamp member for yieldingly maintaining the other leg of said heel clamp member in position clamping the heel oi the shoe against said frame, said spring means also maintaining said head member in position to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and returning said member to such position where it is swung therefrom by turning of said nrst leg on said base member.

5. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for receiving and externally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, a base member for a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold Yclamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes, a, generally U-shaped heel clamp member having a first leg supported on said adjustable base member and a second leg adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe when in supported position, spring means cooperating with the iirst leg of said heel clamp member for yieldingly maintaining the other leg of said heel clamp member in position clamping the heel of the shoe against said frame, and means for adjusting the lengths of said heel clamp member for heels oi' different height,

6. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for receiving and externally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes and comprising a spring-tensioned heel clamp member adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe in supported position, and means for adjusting said toe hold clamp toward and away from said frame substantially normal to the plane of adjustment of said heel clamp.

7. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a support, .f

a toe hold clamp-for receiving and externally engaging the toe end of a supported shoe, a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes and comprising a springtensioned heel clamp member adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame'to' shape and maintain the shape of the shoe when in. supported position, means for adjusting said toe hold clamp toward and away from said frame substantially normal to the plane of adjustment of said heel clamp, and means for adjusting the heel clamp for heels of differentv height.

8. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe hold clamp for engaging the toe end of the sole of the shoe externally of the shoe and a heel clamp adjustable on said frame toward and away from said toe hold clamp to cover the desired range of shoe sizes and comprising a spring tensioned heel clamp member adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof and to clamp the heel of the shoe against the frame to shape and maintain the shape of the shoe when in supported position.

9. A combined shoe rack and tree comprising a frame, a toe clamp mounted on said frame and adaptedto receiveand externally engage the toe of the shoeto hold the same to the frame, a. heel clamp carriage mounted on said frame for sliding movement toward and away from said toe clamp, a generally U-shaped heel clamp member having a first leg andra second leg adapted to enter the shoe at the heel thereof to clamp the heel of the shoe to the frame, said rst leg being mounted on said heel clamp carriage for sliding movement in a` direction generally normal to the path of sliding movement of said heel clamp carriage and for turning movement to permit swinging said second leg laterally to position clear of the shoe upon withdrawing the heel clamp from clamping position, and spring means cooperating with said rst leg yieldingly to maintain said second leg in position clamping the heel of the shoe; to the frame and adapted to return said second leg to said position.

l MERRITT W. GANO, JR. 

